The founder and CEO of Move House in Montclair, Marissa Herrmann, struggled with body confidence for many years. So she knows what it’s like to not like looking in the mirror and to see exercise as a punishment. That’s why her fitness classes focus less on the way you look and more on the way you feel. In fact, she ends every class asking clients “How do you feel?”

At Move House, the goal is for every client to leave feeling more confident than when they came in. The business started as a pop-up and on-demand business for a year. Since then, Marissa has taken the concept to a 600-square-foot studio. “I wanted a space that felt calm, bright and chic,” she says. The gym’s signature color is light green, and the scent is bamboo. “The light colors and natural lighting from the windows create a light and bright atmosphere.”

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Popular classes at Move House include Sculpt, a 50-minute session that blends barre, Pilates, and dance class. Sculpt offers a low-impact and high-energy class that engages the mind and body, both lengthening and toning muscles. Meanwhile, Move House Mamas is a 50-minute sculpt class designed for new moms looking to get back into fitness. The class is BYOB (bring your own baby) until they’re mobile.

Marissa graduated with a degree in dance from Montclair State University. She first started teaching fitness classes part-time while auditioning for theater roles. During the COVID pandemic, auditions slowed and she pivoted heavier into teaching fitness classes. In fact, she taught 50-minute pop-up classes at Anderson Park in Montclair years ago. “It’s a full circle moment now that my studio is located right next to Anderson Park.”

She enjoys combining her background as a professional dancer with her knowledge of fitness to create fun, inclusive, challenging workouts. “I fell in love with helping other women feel strong and confident in their bodies,” she explains. I knew this was exactly where I was supposed to be.”

About Move House

Marissa plans to grow Move House’s in-studio and on-demand communities. “This is much more than a workout. It’s a place I want clients to come to on their best or worst days with the same goal: to leave feeling better than they showed up.” She also plans to expand the schedule and offer events for members.

Visit Move House at 260 Bellevue Ave in Montclair. Look for them online to learn more.

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All Photos: © Guillermo Romani (Provided by Move House)